I feel that multi-discipline Games like the Asian Games or Olympics and Commonwealth Games are a different experience as compared to All England, World Cup and Grand Prix events. The fact that so many athletes from various disciplines stay together in the village and share experiences is something that can never be duplicated in tournaments where only one sport is played.

On the eve of the 1998 Games, I have a lot of expectations from our team. Pullela Gopi Chand has emerged as a fine player, the Indian Open in Delhi having been his big breakthrough. Aparna Popat is another fine prospect who has made everyone sit up with her silver medal performances in the World juniors.

In the past, we have lost in the team events often because of ourweakness in doubles. The format was such that there used to be one singles each of men and women and three doubles of men, women and mixed. If you look back, we have lost many times by a 2-3 margin. But here in Kuala Lumpur, the format has been changed and there will be separate team events for men and women. There will be three singles and two doubles.

I feel this format could see us get a few medals. Gopi is well supported by Abhinn Shyam Gupta and Nikhil Kanetkar and we have a good doubles pair in Jaseel P Ismail/Vincent Lobo and Marcose Bristow/George Thomas. Aparna will have with her Manjusha Kanwar and Neelima Choudhary for singles. In doubles, we have the experienced Madhumita Bisht and PVV Laxmi and Archana Deodhar with Manjusha. If our players play to potential, a medal is there for the taking.

Malaysia are the main contenders. I have been reading in newspapers that they have attached so much prestige to this event at home that there is even talk of making a clean sweep.

Having said all this, Imust confess there is one more aspect that we need to look out for on our way to a medal. That is luck. But still, I am sure the India team will not disappoint Indians back home.

(Professional Management Group)